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Information AboutDefence Establishment Fairbairn |
Fairbairn was a base of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) located in Australia 's national capital, Canberra , Australian Capital Territory . RAAF squadrons were permanently based at the Canberra Aerodrome from 1939 . The base was formally established as RAAF Station Canberra on 1 April 1940 . It became '''Headquarters RAAF Canberra''' in 1953 at the cessation of the Korean War , and was renamed '''RAAF Base Fairbairn''' after the late Minister for Air James V. Fairbairn , Member of the Australian House Of Representatives , who was killed in an aircraft crash in the proximity of the airfield on 13 August 1940 . In December 1960 the base was selected as the locality for '''RAAF Staff College'''. The Defence Reform Program (DRP) determined the base was no longer required and on 28 May 1998 the base was sold to Canberra International Airport . Part of the base was leased back to the Department of Defence on a five-year lease to allow the progressive wind up of operations. The base was decommissioned on 27 June 2003 and the domestic area is now known as Defence Establishment Fairbairn, with Canberra International Airport having full control and ownership of the airfield. The only remaining military unit is No 34 Squadron , which is responsible for the operations of the airforce's V.I.P. transport aircraft which are used to transport Australian officials such as the Prime Minister , cabinet ministers, the Governor General , the leader of the opposition and high ranking defence force officers when travelling both internationally or within Australia. Besides being the home base of No 34 Squadron's special purpose VIP Boeing 737 's and Bombardier Challengers, Fairbairn is also regularly used by other defence force aircraft. The airport used by official aircraft carrying foreign heads of state or government when visiting Canberra, for example when the US President visits Canberra, Air Force One lands there. Fairbairn was also home to No 28 Squadron (Active Reserve Squadron) until it was relocated to HMAS Harman when Fairbairn was decomissioned. EXTERNAL LINKS |
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